Weight Loss Diets-Top Four Diets That Are Proven Effective

There have been literally thousands of weight loss diets created and publicized over the years.  It seems like anyone can claim to have found a magic formula to remove excess pounds with little or no effort on the part of the dieter.  Unfortunately, the results aren't always found to be consistent, or even reasonable. In searching for the best diets, you should look for one that is nutritionally sound, incorporates good lifestyle changes such as exercise and upping water intake plus is simple enough that it can be easily followed by almost any person in any eating environment.

South Beach Diet

One of the most popular weight loss diets is the South Beach Diet.  It was developed by noted cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston during the early 2000s with the assistance of nutritionist Marie Almon.  The development of the diet was in response to the difficulties of Dr. Agatston's patients to stay on the typical low fat diet prescribed for heart patients. The doctor found that his patients were not having the expected results from these diets.  Dr. Agatston initiated additional work in defining good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates.  The list of foods that are preferred for cardiac health and weight loss is known as the glycemic index.

Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet is one of the earliest of the weight loss diets.  It was publicized by Dr Robert Atkins, an overweight physician when he needed an effective weight reduction plan for himself. It is a well publicized low carbohydrate, high protein diet.  Over the years, the diet plan has undergone significant modifications to improve its nutritional soundness. The basic premise of the diet is that it is not fats that cause obesity, but the increased consumption of refined carbohydrates. The negative feature of this diet appears to be that it is boring.

Mediterranean Diet  

Dr Walter Willett is credited with developing this diet in the mid 1990s.  The features of the Mediterranean Diet--one of the weight loss diets considered modern--include consumption of a fairly low level of saturated fats among other features.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, a moderate amount of wine, fish and seafood, and limited red meats are all features of the Mediterranean Diet. In short, it is a typical eating pattern for peoples living in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. These peoples tend to live longer and have a lower rate of cardiac disease than other peoples in the United States.

Pritikin Diet

Dr Nathan Pritikin is another creator of weight loss diets during the 1980s and 1990s.  The focus of this diet is the consumption of minimally processed foods and incorporating a healthy dose of exercise into your daily life. The diet encourages the individual to use fruits, vegetables, legumes such as black beans and pinto beans, and whole grains.  Protein is gained by the use of seafood and lean meats. Detractors feel that the diet is much too strict for most individuals so it is less popular than some of the more trendy diets.